Current-theft indicator



on manna, or rom smIirE, ARKANSAS.

manier-Taurin INDICATOR.

Amilicaticn led December 23,1925. Seriall No. 77,333.

This invention relates to signal devices for indicators and has for its general object-l the provision of 1in-,instrument adapted to he built into or combined with an electric current meter and operating to' give apositive indication whenever an attempt is made to steal current by shunting around the meter as is frequently done by unscrupulous persons.

An important object of the invention 1s to provide an indicatin device for this purpose which will positively act under all c onditions and which, when once operated as the result of theft of current. cannot be restored to vnormal osition by the consumer but will be locked 1n such position as to give a visual indication to aA inete'r reader vor inspector that current has been ta pedffrom the line circuit in advance of the 'ne switch.

Still another ob'ect is to provide a ldevice ,of'this character lin which thel indicator itself or .movable elementthereof is so constructed, arranged and mounted as to avoid the necessity for employing any gage device for maintaining the signal in its theft indicating position after it has .been 4once moved as the result of theft of current, the omission of gage means simplifying the construction.

An additional object is to provide a device of this character -w'hich will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, whichmay be easily built into alread 'existing meters, which will `be eflicient'an positive in action,

durable in service, and a general improve-4 ment in the art.

Vith the above and other objects and,

advantages in view, the invention consists in t'he details of construction and arrangement of arts to be hereinafter more fully descri ed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention as' embodied in a standard circuit including' a watthour meter, control switch and other elements, and

Figure 2 is a view of'the indicator and parts immediately associated therewith showing the indicator as moved into signallin position.

eferring to the drawings in detail, the

numerals 1 and 2 designate the currentcarrying wires of the incoming line. which.

wires connect with the usual entrance switch 3 located in advance of the meter indicated at 4 and connected with the line terminals thereof by conductors 5 and. 6. The numeral 7 Ydesignates the fused branch blocks vvthe`invention. The blocks have their `terminals connected by conductors '10 and 11 with the load terminals of the meter.l

The mechanical details of the meter 4f arel 'with which connect the branch circuits 8 and notl illustrated as being unnecessary to a proper understanding of 'the invention,

ordinarily includes a currentcoil 12 and a potential coil I3, the former being connected in series between one line terminal and one load terminal and the latter being' connected with,the other loadterminal and with one end of the former andthereby constituting a connection across the line andthe load.

It is well known that unscrupulous or dishonest persons tap off current in advance of the switch 3l or at any other point in advance of the rmeter by connecting conductors 14 and 15 with the incoming line wires 1 and 2 or the wires 5 and 6 and with one ormore of the branch circuits as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. Under ordinary circumstances this will permit current to be used without it passing through the meter and such a practice may be resorted to without detection.

It is to prevent such theft andA .to protect electric light companies against such depredations that I- have designed the present invention in the carrying out of which I pro- `vide an indicator 16 pivoted at 17 and -ter-` though it should be statedv that such a meter ico 'tial' coil instead oi being connected directly with the current coil, as in the ordinary practice as above described, is connected between the coils 2O and 21.

The indicator 16 is of such `construction and is so mounted that under normal circumc' stances it stands slightly out of plumb as indicated in Figure 1 and rests against a stop pin 22. Located at some distance from the opposite side ofthe indicator is a second 4 stop pin- 23'lfor limiting itsmovement in its i V should be understood that I' reserve the right indicating position.

The exact construction of the coils 20 and 21 may of course be varied as may the l'detailed formation of. the indicator though the intention is that these coils be so wound thatwhen current i asses through both, .the magnetic effects o both will balance land no eifect be produced upon the armature arms of the indicator. If,v however, an attempt is made to steal current, as for in- Stance by making the connections .asshown by dotted linesin Figure 1," it is clear that current Will flow, say, from the line, wire 1, wire. 14, one wire of the branch circuit 8,

` rconductor 10, current coil l2, coilv 20, potential coil 13, conductor 11, through the other Wire of the branch circuit 8, and wire l15 back to theline wire 2. Ifthe theft at-V tempting connection be vmade in some other way current might flow through the coil 21 in completing the circuit. Regardless of this, it is clear that in either instance the energization of only one of the coils 20 or 2 1 will result in breaking the balance which exists undernormal circumstances and the armature arms will be acted upon so as to swing the pointer or indicator `16 -in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, over# balancingl it and causing it to swing into engagementl with the stop pin 23. The mounting of the indicator 16 with respect to the center of gravityis such that even thoughv .the unauthorized 4connection be discontinued and the proper and legal connection restored subsequent energization of the coils 20 and 21, or either of them, will produce an insufficient magnetic effect to return the indicator to its normal position. In actual practice it is contemplated that the meter equipped with the device be provided with a window behind which or through I which the indicator may be seen orlwill be moved when in theft indicating position. It is thus clear that .it is beyond thepower of the dishonest consumer to conceal that he has made an attempt, Whether successful or not, to steal current. The device is consequently bound 'to be of great value in prometing honesty and protecting electric light companies from Iunauthorized use of current.

' While I have shown and described apreferred :embodiment .of the 4 invention, 'it

Having 'thus described the invention, I'

claim; y v

1. The combination with a'v watt hour meter having a current coil, and a potential coil therein bridging the line and load connection. the combination of a signal device including coils connectedin series with each other and with said current coil, a-movableindicator pivotally'mounted and having armature arms acted upon by saidcoils whereby the indicator will remain normally in neutral position, said potential coil being connected between said coils to constitute a return connection.

' 2. The combination with a lwatt hour meterhaving a current coil, and a potential coil therein bridging the line' and load connection, thelcombination of a signal device including coils connectedin series with each other and with said current coil, a movable indicator pivotally mounted and havin armature arms acted upon by said coils W ereby the indicator will remain normally in neutral position, said potential coill being connected between said coils to constitute a return connection, said indicator being pivoted in overbalanced relation to one side, stop means engaged by the indicator for normally holding 'it in said overbalanced condition, and stop means for limiting movement of the indicator in the other direction. 3. The combination with a 'watt hour meter having an actuating coil therein, of a.

theft indicator comprising a pivoted member having oppostely' arranged armature armsY e thereon, coilsl connected in series with said actuating coil .and positioned to act upon said armature arms for normally-maintaining the indicator in neutral position when current flows through 'the meter yin the usual course, and 'a coil connected between said coils and connected with` one load and one line terminal of the meter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 

